Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-04-15
Austria.Hungary.

OF the two great empires which are
now confronting each other with o con-
slant threat of wal in eastern Europe,
much is known about Russia, and but
little in this country about Austria
Hungary. Yet both the history and
the present condition of Austria-Hu
gary are full of deep interest for those
whose tastes lead them to enjoy the
study of nations and political systems.
AS the very name implies, Austria
! Hungary is q dual monarchy; that is,
two monarchies combined into n
| by o common tie. There is only one
other monarchy of the sort in the
| world, that of Sweden and Norway,
which two countries are still more dis
! tinct from each other than are Austria
aud Hungary, for they have nc common
government whatever. Austria, that
part of the empire which lies west OF
River Leitha, and Hungary, which lies
east of that river, form each q kingdom
entirely by itself. The chief tie be-
tween them is the fact that the same
person is the sovereign of both. The
Emperor of Austria is also King OF
Hungary, and is crowned both at
Vienna, the Austrian capital, and also
at Buda-Peeth, the Hungarian capital.
But otherwise each kingdom has its
separate parliament, and it's own cabl-
net, or ministry. Each makes it's own
laws, imposes and collects its own taxes,
and manages its own public affairs. In
each kingdom, too, the cabinet is re-
sponsib1e to the two bodies which con-
stitute tho national Legislature.
There is, however, an arrangement
by which the two kingdoms act in con-
cert as one empire, in regard to all
matters of political moment common to
them both. This arrangement consists
of o body which is called the "Delega-
TONS" The delegations are composed
of sixty delegates from each kingdom,
chosen by the parliaments, who meet
every year alternately at the two cap
itals, and deliberate upon subjects Of
imperial concern. Those subjects are
foreign affairs, finance, and military ad-
ministration. Corresponding to the
delegations. and responsible to them, is
an imperial cabinet, which comprises
only three ministers. The first of these
ministers is at the head of the depart
ment Of foreign affairs. The other two
ministers hold the portfolios of war and
finance. The power of the imperial
government, as such, is confined, there.
fore, to diplomatic relations with other
powers, the management of the army,
and the conduct OF wars, and the
financial measures needed for these de,
partments.
Austria Hungary was for many cen
turtles q despotism as hard and as
absolute as is that Of Russia to-day
But twenty years ago, as a result of its
overwhelming defeat by the Prussians
The emperor ceased to be absolute
ministers were made responsible to the
representatives of the people; and the
people were admitted to a large share
in the control Of the government. ASS
result of this happy change, the
Austrian peoples We're accorded liberty
of speech and conscience, a free press
freedom of marriage and education, ani
a widely extended suffrage. An entirely
new career was opened to them as one
of the great nations of Europe.
Composed as the empire is, of man,
different, jealous, a~ntagonistic races, o:
which the Germans, Magyars, Czechs
and Slavs are the chief, the task of hold
ing them together as n nation has
been difficult. But the attainment o
political freedom by these peoples has
lessened the difficulty. The Empero,
was never sc secure Of his dominion.
when he was IN absolute despot as he
has been since he gave up a large por
ton of his power, and shared it with hi:
subjects. The Austro-H Hungarian en-.
pire may not be long-lasting; but it ii
certain that it would have fallen t.
pieces long ago if despotism had no.
been abandoned, and if q free constitu
ton had not been granted Youth,
Companion.